Do possums or opossums eat chickens? It is a common question for poultry raisers who spot possums near their chicken coops and yard.
So, let’s find out the answer to whether possums can eat chicken or their eggs. Moreover, we will discuss where possums are usually seen and how to spot a possum family nearby.
This article will discuss the biology and diet of opossums. It will clarify common misconceptions about them. The article will also explore effective strategies to protect backyard flocks from possums.
Do Possums Eat Chickens?
When a homesteader woke up one night, they saw an opossum curled up in the chicken coop, quietly stealing food and eggs.
These kinds of stories scare people, but what is the real danger? The common opossum, which is often just called a “possum,” is the only marsupial that lives alone and at night in North America.
This species is not the same animal as the possums that live in Australia. Opossums are shy animals that like dead animals, bugs, and fruit more than live animals.
About Opossums
Possums and opossums are about the same size as house cats. They have bodies that are 33–55 cm long and tails that are 25–54 cm long. On average, they weigh 2–5 kg (4–11 lbs).
Their tails resemble those of rats, and the “thumbs” on their hind feet are capable of both retracting and extending. This helps them climb and grab branches. She has a pouch to carry her young because she is a marsupial.
After only 11–13 days of pregnancy, she can deliver birth to about 15-20 tiny babies, but most of the time, only 8–9 make it and attach to the 13 nipples in her pouch.
Some joeys remain with their mother for several months before they depart. Due to many predators and dangers, their lives are short in the wild—usually only one to two years. They can live up to 4 years in captivity, but they get old quickly in the wild.
They only come out at night and move slowly. To find food, they use their strong senses of smell and touch instead of their good night vision.
Animals may hiss, growl, or bare their teeth when they feel threatened. The most famous thing they do is “play dead.” This means they freeze stiff for hours. Often, they do this with their mouths open and tongues sticking out to trick predators.
Opossums usually avoid attacking bigger animals, and because they have a low body temperature, they rarely get rabid. But this makes them look mean from a distance.
In a favorable season, female opossums may have one to three litters a year. Each litter has about 20 joeys, which are about the size of bees. However, only 13 can nurse in the pouch, so any more than that die.
Pups stay in the pouch for about two and a half months and then cling to their mom’s back for another month or two.
By 4 to 5 months, they can do things on their own. The mother leaves the nest every night to find food, which can put her and her babies in more danger.
Opossum Diet & Chickens
The opossum eats everything, including insects. Insects, snails, slugs, and other invertebrates make up most of their natural diet.
They like eating cockroaches, beetles, and grubs, which makes them “nature’s little sanitation engineers” because they help get rid of ticks and pests.
Possums also eat a lot of vegetables, especially rotting fruit, fruits, nuts, and small animals like mice, frogs, birds, and snakes. If they can find it, they will also eat dead animals and trash, or pet food.
Possums are very picky eaters and will eat almost anything. They eat a wide range of foods like insects, ticks, small rodents, frogs, birds, and berries.
They like easy targets. Opossums usually don’t like to fight. They would rather take chicks and eggs than fight full-grown hens.
Opossums often eat eggs or nestlings, but if an adult hen fights back, it will probably escape. They may eat eggs, chicks, and nesting hens, but avoid chickens that fight back.
Do Opossums Kill Chickens?
Yes, technically, but it’s not common for a healthy adult hen. Opossums are not like foxes or hawks, which are common predators of birds. They are slow and clumsy compared to quick predators.
A very brave opossum can grab an unattended chicken if food is hard to find, but this is a last resort. When they kill birds, they usually make a mess and don’t do a good job.
The usual damage is that a chicken’s vent or underside is ripped open and its internal organs are eaten or scattered. They often flip the bird and eat from the soft belly, in other words. This behavior is different from that of a raccoon, which might cut off heads or pick things up more neatly.
These kinds of kills don’t happen very often. Many homesteaders say that possums mostly leave fully grown adult chickens alone and go after smaller animals.
It’s very rare for an opossum to kill a grown chicken. “They will if they have to, but they’re more of a threat to eggs and chicks.
Opossums are “much maligned” and can even help control rodents. In fact, a number of sources say that if your coop is safe, you should leave non-threatening opossums alone because they eat ticks, snails, and rodents.
They are likely to be the ones who killed a hen and ripped open its chest or belly. If the hen is mostly left alone except for spilled feed or missing eggs, an opossum is once again a strong possibility.
Do Opossums Eat Eggs, Feed, or Heads/Bones?
A few things are yes and few are no. Let’s understand it in more detail.
Eggs: Yes, eggs. Eggs are often what draw an opossum into a coop. They will break eggs and eat them on the spot, leaving bits of shell behind. In fact, finding empty, broken eggshells in or around the coop is a sure sign that an opossum came by.
Feed/Grain: Yes. Opossums are drawn to any source of calories that is easy to get to. An opossum will eat chicken feed like candy if it is left out overnight. They won’t think twice about digging through feeders or spilled grain. This means that taking food away at night can keep people from coming over.
Carrion/Bones: Yes. Opossums are scavengers, so they will eat any dead animals or scraps that are left over. An opossum will eat the head, bones, and all of a dead chicken instead of letting it go to waste. They eat roadkill and rotten meat, so a weak hen is fair game for their cleanup crew. But in reality, they rarely attack a live chicken and eat her head or bones.
Signs of Possums Nearby
Even if you never see one, opossums leave clear signs of their presence. Look out for:
Their Tracks: Opossum tracks are very easy to tell apart. Every foot has five toes, and the inner toe of the back foot looks like an opposable thumb. Hand- or kid-glove–shaped prints about 2–4 inches long are common in muddy or snowy ground. The more extensive back footprints overlap the front ones.
Poop: Opossum poop is brown, tubular, and slightly pointed, depending on diet. About 1–3 inches long droppings. Possums leave poop near their resting or feeding areas, so a pile of unusual poop in the garden or coop may indicate a visit. It may resemble cat or small dog droppings, but is more segmented and tapering.
Sound: A scared opossum may hiss, growl, or click at night. These foragers are usually quiet. One loud hiss may deter them. Opossums often “play possum” for minutes to hours when frightened. You might think it’s dead, so be careful if you find one.
Damage Signs: They dig for grubs or raid trash, eat garden snails/flowers (they like tender plants and slugs), or bed down in flattened brush piles. Eggshell debris is a clear sign of opossum activity in coops and runs. Opossums also move bedding or leaves into woodpiles, under decks, and attic/crawl spaces to nest. They may have eaten eggs or scraps if chickens are upset but not missing, so check the run.
Attics and Shelters: Possums sometimes build dens under decks, porches, or in attics and garages. If you smell something greasy or musty, hear scratching sounds at night, or find an old nest made of grass and leaves in a quiet corner, it could be an opossum den. They don’t make big holes; instead, they use holes that are already there. However, they can fit into small spaces.
Any of these clues points to an opossum being nearby. Different from some predators, they leave a lot of evidence because they move slowly and carefully. Using tracks or scat to correctly identify them helps you focus your efforts to keep predators out.
Opossum Distribution in North America
You can find the North American Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) all over the continent. It does well in forests, swamps, yards in the suburbs, and even parks in cities.
Possums used to be limited by cold winters, but as temperatures have gotten warmer, they have slowly spread northward.
These days, they go from the southernmost states to provinces like Ontario and sometimes even further north, all the way down to Central America.
They are most common in warmer, forested areas, but they can also live in rural and suburban areas where there is plenty of food and shelter.
Their high densities are most common in the south and southeast of the continent, but not only there. Possums live in many cities, even in cooler areas, because they can find food and warmth in cities and eat a lot of ticks and rodents.
Islands and places very far north (above about 45°N latitude) don’t have as many opossums because the winters are too cold. For the most part, though, opossums live in places with trees, water, and mild weather.
Spotting an Opossum Family
If you see an opossum outside, it’s likely to have young joeys with it. Moms can carry up to a dozen joeys, but only about two or three are big enough to be seen outside the pouch at a time.
There could be up to thirteen inside. Two or three little black joeys might stick out of the pouch or mom’s back, in early spring or late summer.
The mother takes care of her babies all the time. At night, you might find these groups relaxing in a trash pile, a hollow log, a groundhog hole, or even the corner of a chicken coop. Sometimes, during the day, their den is a neatly lined nest of grass, leaves, or torn paper.
To see one at night, watch the coop run in peace after dark (with a dim light). Hens are smart; if an opossum comes in, they may perch up or run outside.
A hen with chicks might move more slowly. Young opossums that make a “meh-meh” sound may be calling for their mother if they get separated.
If you find a joey that has been left behind because its mother was hit by a car. If you see a joey, take it to a wildlife rehabilitator right away because these babies need special milk and care.
If you live in an area where opossums live, you probably see a family of them pretty often. The mom has very few ones in her pouch and very few teens on her back.
A mother chicken with a lot of babies to feed is less likely to kill grown chickens, which is good for people who keep chickens. She’s usually too tired to take care of the joeys and is more interested in easy food like bugs and small animals.
Risks Beyond Eating Poultry
Even though opossums aren’t usually very aggressive hunters, you should know about some health and nuisance issues they can cause:
Health Risks: Ticks, fleas, lice, and other parasites can live on opossum fur. They also eat a lot of ticks, which is a good thing, but any ticks that are on an opossum might fall off and land in your yard. They may also transmit coccidia to chickens. Possums can carry leptospirosis, tularemia, and toxoplasmosis. They are notorious toxoplasmosis hosts for cats and humans. Due to their low body temperature, they resist rabies well. Rabid opossums are rare but possible. Overall, the disease risk is low, but avoid handling them bare-handed and clean up droppings with gloves.
Safety for Chickens: It’s not a big deal if possums pass diseases directly to chickens (there are no known diseases that only affect chickens that come from possums). The bigger threat is indirect: if an opossum eats infected rodents, any parasites could stay in its poop near chicken areas. Most ways for infections to spread are stopped by keeping feed and water clean.
Damage to gardens: Opossums will raid a vegetable garden at night to eat fallen fruit and vegetables. They eat slugs and snails (which are good for gardens), but they also eat soft plants and fallen fruit. They aren’t heavy diggers, but they might dig through compost or overturned pots to find grubs.
Damage to Structures: As was already said, an opossum may dig a den under a shed, porch, or deck. They sometimes get into crawlspaces or attics through holes. The grass and leaves they use as nests can make these areas smell bad, and they bring fleas inside with them that can jump on pets. When there are a lot of opossums around, they can make it hard to get in and out of buildings.
Being around an opossum in or near a coop can be scary for chickens and other pets. If a chicken is afraid of a predator nearby, it might not lay eggs.
Looking at or smelling an opossum could even make a protective rooster angry, which could hurt hens while they are confused. So their presence is a worry for flock calm, even when they aren’t actually preying on birds.
Possums shouldn’t be in living spaces or coops because they can be a nuisance and spread disease. A fully grown chicken is not at a high risk. It is best for their health to keep them away from food and shelter.
How to Protect Chickens: Detailed Guide
Building a predator-proof coop and routine protects chickens from all backyard predators, including opossums. Best practices:
Enclosed Coop & Run: The walls, windows, and run fencing of your coop should be made of hardware cloth (welded wire mesh) with small holes (¼–½ inch). Don’t use chicken wire because its holes are easy to get through and it’s not very strong. Use screws and washers to attach hardware cloth to all openings, including vents, doors, nests, and even the floor if you can. For walls and floors, a heavy-gauge ½” hardware cloth is best.
Skirt or Apron Barrier: Opossum digging shallow holes. Bury the hardware cloth at least 12 inches deep around the run walls or create a “skirt” outside the fence to prevent digging. Try trenching around the run, laying a 2-foot-wide hardware cloth in the trench, and backfilling. Another method is to extend hardware cloth horizontally underground (the apron) so a digging predator gives up. Foxes and skunks are also deterred. Cover the run with hardware cloth if you can floor it with wood or concrete.
Raise the Coop: If the coop is on the ground, make sure it has a sturdy wooden or concrete floor or raise it on legs. This stops animals like rats, snakes, and weasels from digging underneath and makes it last longer. The floor should be tightly attached with no gaps. Elevated coops can also use hardware cloth walls under the floor. Use treated lumber or cinder blocks so the wood doesn’t rot.
Cover the Top: To keep climbing predators and raptors out, cover the top of the run with hardware cloth or bird netting to make a roof. Opossums are quick climbers; they can get up and down fences with ease. A weak run cover keeps them away. Possums that climb up the side can’t get in, even if the roof is made of tight wire.
Locks and doors that are safe: Simple latches won’t keep an opossum or raccoon out. Use padlocks, carabiners, or barrel bolts that they can’t open. Every night at dusk, lock up so that the chickens are inside and all the doors and windows are closed. Roosters alone are not enough protection. Make sure that even the vents on the roof have covers.
Lock Up Feed: Don’t feed chickens at night. Keep feed in sealed metal or plastic feeders because opossums can smell grain and may find spilled kernels. Every day, pick up any feed that has fallen on the ground. You should also clean up any leftover scraps and vegetables before nightfall. It’s best to hang a feeder that animals can’t get into or close it at night.
Light and Noise Deterrents: Put motion-activated lights near the coop; sudden light can scare nighttime predators. Some keepers use radio/static noise or ultrasonic pest repellers, but they don’t always work against opossums. Some nighttime visitors might stay away from the run if you put predator urine (coyote or fox scent) or ammonia-soaked rags around it. They don’t like the smell of predators. These methods should work with solid barriers, not replace them.
Electric Fencing: If you have raccoons or other animals that like to climb, a low-voltage electric fencing around the coop’s edge can shock them. Put a wire about 6 to 8 inches above the ground and one above the chickens’ heads. If you put it in the right place, birds will not touch it. Use this with your fence.
Regular Inspections: Check the fencing, holes, and new entry points every day for damage or wear. Look for signs that people are digging near fences. Fix small nicks or rusty parts right away.
Guardian Animals: A brave rooster, a guard dog, or even geese can sometimes keep nighttime predators away. Geese are loud and protective of their territory. A good dog, whether it’s inside the coop/run or barking at you, can keep opossums away. But don’t rely on them alone; you still need physical barriers.
Trapping/Removal: If all else fails or the law allows it, you can catch opossums alive with a cage trap that has fruit or cat food inside. First, look at the rules. In many places, you can move a trapped opossum to a wild area a few miles away, but in some places, you have to kill it or get a permit. Don’t let someone else have your property. If moving is not possible or legal, hire a service to remove the animals. Keep in mind that in many cases, the most humane thing to do is to scare them away, since they are good for the environment.
DIY Projects and Products
Many people who raise chickens do their own things to keep opossums away. Putting a hardware cloth fence skirt (apron) around the run is a common choice.
Use scrap wood or metal stakes to hold a ¼” hardware cloth sheet down on the ground to do this. This way, any digging animal hits the cloth and can’t get through it.
Another idea is a “flip fence” top. You can loosely attach light PVC pipes to the top of the fence. The pipe that hangs down flips over and knocks the intruder off when an animal tries to climb over it and grab something.
The idea (any floppy overhang) can also keep climbers away from here, even though it is often used for possums in Australia.
If you have a coop, you might want to add fine mesh to the vent covers and use a metal roof to keep animals out. Attach a strip of coarse sandpaper or metal flashing to the bottom of the roost. Predators won’t want to go through the rough bottom.
Myths & FAQs
Myth: Possums are aggressive predators that will attack any chicken.
Not true. Possums don’t usually want to fight. They would rather run away or pretend to be dead than fight. Opossums only kill most dead chickens (torn open from below) when they are cornered and can’t get away. Flocks that are healthy, free-range, and have safe coops don’t get sick very often. An opossum usually goes after easy prey, like eggs or sick birds, instead of healthy adult hens.
Can possums give diseases to my flock or family?
Some pathogens and parasites can live in possums. They are known to carry ticks, fleas, and worms, as well as bacteria like Leptospira (leptospirosis) and Toxoplasma. But because they don’t get very hot, they don’t get rabid very often. If the coops are clean, the risk to healthy chickens is low. However, any wounds from an opossum bite should be seen by a vet right away because they could get infected. Always wash your hands after touching traps or poop.
Is an opossum immune to snake venom?
Yes, to some extent. Opossums have a protein in their blood that stops a lot of snake venom from working. This is why they can hunt and eat poisonous snakes like rattlesnakes without getting hurt. They don’t store or get rid of venom; they just have natural antibodies. So, an opossum bite won’t hurt you, but it could still give you a bacterial infection.
I found a possum with its stomach torn open – is it rabid or something?
No. That probably means that a bigger animal, like a dog, found it, or it died after being attacked by another animal. Look for marks from bites or claws. Fights or accidents can kill opossums, but their bodies don’t naturally rip open. It’s likely that a possum is just playing dead if its mouth is open and still and it doesn’t move.
Will motion-activated lights and ultrasonic devices scare possums away?
They could help. Most nighttime predators don’t like bright lights because they prefer darkness. Many people who keep animals near their coops use motion-sensor floodlights, which often scare possums away. You can buy ultrasonic emitters that work at 20 to 40 kHz for rodents, but you can’t be sure how opossums will react. Put it close to the coop if you try one. Remember that any device that makes sound only adds to the problem; don’t rely on it alone.
What if an opossum gets inside an open coop? Won’t it attack me or my kids?
Opossums are not aggressive toward people; they usually stay away from them. If it gets in (like through an open roof), calmly scare it out with a broom or soft noise. They might hiss or show their teeth, but that’s just to protect themselves. Don’t try to do it with your bare hands. Once you’re out, lock the coop. If it won’t go, catch it. Do not try home remedies like poison.
Is trapping and relocating possums allowed?
It depends on where you are. You can live-capture an opossum on your property in many places because it is not protected and is seen as a general nuisance. But the rules about moving animals are different in different places. In some places, you can let it go a few miles away, but in others, a wildlife expert must kill it if it is causing problems. Moving an animal can stress it out and spread disease, so the best thing to do is usually to prevent it (coop security) instead of after it has been caught. Before trapping, always check the laws in your area about wildlife. Breaking these laws can lead to fines. For instance, a guide to managing wildlife says that authorities usually have to either let a trapped possum go (if they can) or put it to death.
Myth: Opossums always seek out chickens in winter because they’re hungry.
Partly true. Food is harder to find in the winter, so an opossum that is starving might take bigger risks. In the winter, a sick or hungry opossum could attack birds. But if the coop is safe and the food is kept inside, even winter raids are very rare. Even in the winter, the best way to keep chickens safe is to keep them locked up and fed until dawn.
Conclusion
So, we can conclude that North American opossums will eat chicken eggs, chicks, or a sick bird if they get the chance, but they are not always going to kill chickens.
A possum that can eat easier prey is usually safe around a healthy adult flock. The most important thing is to be proactive and prevent problems.
For example, make sure the coop is safe by using strong wire and locks, taking away food at night, and covering any openings.
Let other poultry keepers know this: knowing how opossums act (they eat insects, are shy, and even help control ticks) can help us live with them and keep our flocks safe.
If you have a possum story or tip of your own, think about sharing it with the chicken community in your area. Every story helps others keep their backyard flocks safe!
We will be happy if you will share your experience below in the comment section about possums and backyard clickens.
Don’t kid yourself. Opossums are “persistent” night predators that will kill chickens on the roost, at least South Carolina ‘possums do, eating their fill and leaving the carcass. If the chicken roost is within hearing distance due to terrain or distance to your home and you’re awakened by screaming chickens and can get to the fenced housing to find a opossum munching on one of your best layers or the varmint is trying to escape when you’re entering the fencing with the flashlight, there’s little doubt who’s eating your chickens and I’ve eliminated several over the years.. Raccoons will also do the similar. I’ve caught both over the years in a chain linked fenced chicken yard, that has a top covered with 2 x 4 hog wire. Both varmints have a way of finding a way getting through the slightest opening in the fence if one doesn’t keep constant inspection for any fence damage.
Thanks for sharing your experience — predator behavior can definitely vary by location and individual animals. Opossums are generally considered opportunistic rather than active chicken hunters, but as you pointed out, they absolutely can kill chickens, especially if they find an easy entry at night.
Your point about regular fence inspection is really important. Even small gaps, loose wire, or weak latches can allow predators like opossums and raccoons to get inside. A fully enclosed run, covered top, and predator-proof hardware cloth are often the best defenses.
Appreciate you adding real-world experience — it helps readers understand that predator pressure can differ depending on setup and region.